Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-03-17
JACOBS NEW NAME.
DR.. cURTIss' NOTES ON THE SUM-
DAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Lesson XII of the International Series
for Sunday March sO-Text of the Les
son, Gen. xxxii, 9-12 and 24-3O-Golden
Text, Gen. xxxii, 26.

This lesson introduces us to the crisis OF
Jacobs life. The new name which he re
ceived is the sign of a complete change which
was wrought in him.
God had greatly blessed him. A solitary
pilgrim he went to Haran- He left Haran
with two wives, one of whom he had received
against his will, and eleven sons, besides nu-
merous focks and herds.
He finally broke away from his father-in-
law, Laban, by stealth. Pursued by Laban,
but delivered from the peril to which he was
exposed from his anger, through Gods gra-
cious interposition, he was exposed to new
danger from his brother, whom he had so
deceived years before, and who was now
marching to meet him with 400 men.
Through all these years Esau had not forgot
ten the wrong done him. Jacob was in peril
Of seeing all his possessions disappear in
moment, and Of being slain with his wives
and children.
But his presence of mind does not forsake
him. He uses his best Judgment in the divi-
sion of his servants and property into two
camps, and then in bis extremity, when hu-
man foresight can do no more, betakes HIM
self to prayer.
THE LESSON.
The God of the Covenant Tvs. 910-When
he addresses God as the God of his father
Abraham, and the God of his father Isaac, he
does so with reference to the covenant made
with them and the promises made to them.
He not only urges these, but he reminds God
that he had told him TO return to his country,
and that he had promised to deal well with
him. He then confeSses his own unworthiness
of even the least of Gods mercies, and ascribes
to him all the great prosperity which he had
enjoyed.
VS. 11-12. He prays for deliverance from
his brother Esau, and from his murderous
hand; and reminds God, as motive for spar
ing his life and the lives of his children, that
God had promised to make his seed like the
sand of the sea, that cannot be numbered for
multitude.
Answering His Own Prayer-We see from
the following narrative that he began to an
swer his own prayer, although wemay doubt
less say that God gave him needed wisdom
Without waiting for God to make special
demonstration he began to employ such
measures as were likely to win the favor of
his brother.
Taking $50 domestic animals he divided
them into five droves, placing considerable
distance between them, and putting each in
charge Of a servant, who was to give a stereo-
typed and most deferential answer to ESau,
as he met them and inquired to whom they
belonged. The first drove would certainly
make favorable impression upon him, but
what must his feelings be when he had seen
the fifth and had been assured five times:
"They be thy servant Jacobs; it is present
unto my Lord Esau; and behold ne also is
behind us.n
He sent all these droves across the ford of
the Jabbok, which Is a stream flowing into
the Jordan from the land OF Moab just north
of Mount Gilead Afterward he took over
his own family and possessions. All human
ingenuity could do had been done, but the
great struggle was still to come.
The Lonely Combat Tvs. 2+26-As he re-
manned all alone in the deep shadows of the
night a man came and wrestled with him
This was not an assassin sent by Esau to mur-
der him, as some scholars used to say, nor
was Jacob dreaming, as some German
scholars used to say. We rather have a mar
rative related as fact. Jacob wrestled with
a man until the break of day, and when the
man got no advantage over him he touched
the hollow Of his thigh, so that ever after
Jacob limped, and for this reason his de-
scendants did not eat the sinew of the hip
which is upon the hollow of the thigh ". 80,
Revised Version).
Who then was this man who wrestled with
Jacob! In Hosea Xii, 4, we read that he was
an angel, but farther on in our lesson we see
that in the face of this angel Jacob recog-
nized the face of God ". 30. The angel who
wrestled with him therefore was none other
than the angel of Jehovah who appeared to
Hagar in her extremity (Gen. xvi, z, 1S) and
who partOok Of the hospitality of Abraham
CGen. xviii, 10. We may thus suppose that
the Christ who was to be born in human form
was revealing himself in these ways TO his
servants And if Jesus, who was very God
as well as very man, condescended to be a
guest on so many occasions luke xiv, so,
etc., to allow the woman who was a sinner
to anoint his feet luke vii, 81, 3S, and in
vited Thomas to put his finger into the print
of the nails and thrust his hand into his side
John III, 81, we need not be surprised that
the angel of Jehovah should condescend to
wrestle with the ancestor Of the Israelitish
people, when by this means he was to become
worthy to be father Of the people of redemp-
ton.
A Physical Wrestling. What passed in
that lonely hour we cannot tell. for we have
the briefest account of it The narrative in
Genesis emphasizes physical wrestling; that
in Hosea his pleadings with the angel and his
tears The one does not exclude the other
Jacob became aware that his arms were in
tsrlocked with those of a man who could
bless him, and he was unwilling to let him go
until the blessing came. He therefore held
the angel, who sought to elude his grasp; and
when the angel said, "Let me go, for the day
breaketh," )" he replied with passionate earnest
ness, 81 will not let thee go, except thou bless
me.n
The Blessing and the New Name Tvs 81
2S)-The blessing was granted, and with it a
new name. The patriarch had been the "heel
catcher "the supplanter," for that is the
meaning of Jacob. The advantages that he
had gained over Esau had been by cunning
and deceit That night the old man Jacob
died, when the new man Israel was born at
the breaking of the day.
He who began the contest with the angel Of
Jehovah as the supplanter, now leaves it,
under Gods gracious condescension, victor
who has striven with God. He not only pre-
walls with God, but also with man, and there
fore with his brother. As Jacob he feared
his brother. As Israel he is restored to his
brothers arms, and for time at least, to his
brothers love Gen. xxxiii, a.
VS. %. 80. Jacob asks for the name OF this
heavenly vlsloni but ne declines TO gratlfy
his curiosity, although he grants him his
blessing. Jacob, however, understands who
has been with him, and calls the place Peniel;
or "face of God"
POINTS TO BIZ REMEMBERED.
1. When we ask God to do what he has
promised, we may be sure that our prayer, If
offered in faith, will be answered.
2. We should do what we can to answer our
own prayers. Christians should use all the
skill and foresight God has given them
s. God condescends to give such help as his
humblest child may need
4. The man who prevails with God win
prevail with men. The closet Is the place
where the hardest battles are fought and the
greatest victories won.
5. Gods grace can change the meanest sin
ner into a noble saint.-Sunday School
World